Cheyanne Harris And Zachary Koehn Charged with first degree murder after their 4-month-old was found dead in his swing

Koehn called 911 requesting an ambulance and saying his child was dead

Police found 4-month-old Sterling Daniel Koehn’s body well below the 5th percentile in size and weight

During the autopsy it was discovered the child had maggots growing in his clothes and on his skin

The maggots showed that Sterling had not been removed from his seat in over a week

Chickasaw County, Iowa, authorities were shocked when they responded to a 911 call for an ambulance and found a dead toddler that weighed under seven pounds and infested with maggots.

According to court documents, on August 30, at approximately 12:57 pm, Chickasaw County Sheriff’s Office received a call requesting an ambulance from Zachary Koehn at 304 W. Wilson, in Alta Vista.

Koehn told the dispatcher that at 9:00 am his girlfriend Cheyanne Harris fed their 4-month-old child. He said that Harris checked on the child at 11:00 or 11:30 the child was dead.

Sterling Daniel Koehn

Officers arrived at the residence of Koehn, Harris and their two young children. First responders were able to confirm that Sterling Daniel Koehn was dead. The 4-month-old was found in his powered swing in a bedroom separate from where Koehn, Harris, and the older child slept.

The couple later told police that Sterling had not been checked on since the day before, August 29.

On August 31, Sterling underwent an autopsy at State Medical Examiner’s office in Ankeny, Iowa. The autopsy reports the toddler weighed only 3152 grams, just under seven pounds, and was 14 inches in length. These measurements put the child well below the 5th percentile in size and weight.

Various Stages Of Maggots

The autopsy made a horrific discovery. “Sterling’s body was found to have maggots in various stages of development in his clothingand on his skin.” A Forensic Entomologist was called in to identify and study the maggots to provide a timeline.

The study of the maggots growth and development showed that Sterling had not had a “diaper change, bath, or been removed from the seat in over a week.” The State Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide. Both Koehn and Harris have been charged with first degree murder and child endangerment.

The closing of the criminal complaint reads, “the facts of this case go far beyond neglect and show circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to human life.” The criminal complaint can be read below.